FORMER England under-21 manager Howard Wilkinson believes that defender Michael Ball will thrive without the spectre of relegation at Rangers.

FORMER England under-21 manager Howard Wilkinson believes that defender Michael Ball will thrive without the spectre of relegation at Rangers.

The 21-year-old is poised to join the Light Blues in a #7million deal once he has passed his Ibrox medical.

However, during Ball's time at Goodison Park, Everton have rarely been out of relegation danger.

Now Wilkinson, who has watched the youngster progress since he turned professional, reckons that the intensity of life near the top of the table will allow Ball to improve his game.

"I think that the context and the nature of the games is going to be slightly different to most of the games he has played up to now at professional level," said Wilkinson.

"It is up to him to exploit the extra freedom that he might get and turn it to his advantage.

"Michael is physically very gifted - a good athlete with a good left foot.

"He is also good in the air and has been an outstanding prospect since he was a schoolboy.

"He has played Premiership football regularly now for three years which is lot of football for one so young and a lot of it has been playing under pressure.

"Never once, during that time, have Everton really been comfortable in the Premier League. They have always been struggling to put results together.

"I think Michael will probably benefit from playing in games which they are expected to win and will win as opposed to games where they have been struggling to get results all the time because of his age.

"I would think, after the last three years, he would be quite happy to be looking at games where the expectation is to win rather than the question can we get a result?"

But Wilkinson also believes that the lure of Champions League football, providing Rangers can dispose of Fenerbahce, will enhance the potential of the England international. He added: "

"Everton will be disappointed for him to move but, as it has turned out, from his personal point of view - in the short term - he will benefit from the change."

Wilkinson has rated Ball highly since the defender came to his attention but his debut under the former Leeds United boss had another moment to remember - for very different reasons.

"My first contact with him was with the under-18s when he played against Yugoslavia at Rotherham. The under-18s drew 1-1 and Michael Owen got sent off," said Wilkinson.

"I had been aware of him as a youngster but I first saw him when he was 17 and I brought him into the under-18s. But he has played for all of the teams."